When you paste a link into a new email in Outlook, the app may automatically generate a rich preview showing the page title, description, and an image. This behavior differs between Classic Outlook and the new Outlook for Windows. Some users want these previews for marketing or newsletters, while others find them distracting or a privacy risk. This article explains how link previews work in both versions and how to control when they appear in your composed messages.
Key Takeaways: Controlling Link Previews in Classic and New Outlook
- File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > AutoCorrect > AutoFormat As You Type: Disables automatic link preview generation in Classic Outlook by turning off Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
- New Outlook Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Link Preview: Toggles the automatic preview on or off for all links pasted in new Outlook.
- Right-click > Remove Preview: Removes a single link preview in both Classic Outlook and new Outlook without disabling the feature permanently.
How Link Previews Work in Classic Outlook vs New Outlook
Link previews are generated by Outlook when you paste a URL into the body of a new email message. The app fetches metadata from the linked page, including the Open Graph title, description, and a thumbnail image. This feature is designed to make emails more visually engaging and to give recipients context before they click.
In Classic Outlook (part of Microsoft 365 and Office 2019/2021), link previews are controlled by the AutoCorrect settings. By default, Classic Outlook converts pasted URLs into hyperlinks but does not always generate a rich preview card. The preview behavior depends on the version and whether the link is pasted as a hyperlink or as plain text. Classic Outlook uses the Windows Internet Explorer rendering engine to fetch preview data, which may fail for some modern websites.
In the new Outlook for Windows (the modern replacement for Mail and Calendar), link previews are generated by default for every pasted URL. The new Outlook uses a more modern web rendering engine, so previews appear more consistently. The feature is controlled by a single toggle in the settings, making it easier to turn on or off globally.
Both versions allow you to remove a preview from an individual link without disabling the feature entirely. However, the steps differ significantly between Classic and new Outlook.
Steps to Control Link Previews in Classic Outlook
In Classic Outlook, you cannot disable link previews with a single toggle. Instead, you must change the AutoCorrect settings to prevent Outlook from automatically converting pasted URLs into hyperlinks. When URLs remain as plain text, no preview is generated.
- Open Outlook Options
In Classic Outlook, click File in the top-left corner, then click Options. - Go to Mail Settings
In the Outlook Options dialog, click Mail in the left pane. - Open Editor Options
Under the Compose Messages section, click Editor Options. - Access AutoCorrect Settings
In the Editor Options dialog, click AutoCorrect in the left pane. - Disable Automatic Hyperlinks
Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Under Replace as you type, uncheck Internet and network paths with hyperlinks. Click OK to close each dialog.
After completing these steps, pasted URLs in Classic Outlook will remain as plain text and will not generate a link preview. To restore previews, recheck the same option.
Remove a Single Link Preview in Classic Outlook
If you want to keep the feature enabled but remove a preview from one specific link, right-click the preview card in the email body and select Remove Preview. The link remains as a clickable hyperlink but the card disappears.
Steps to Control Link Previews in New Outlook
The new Outlook for Windows provides a dedicated toggle for link previews. You can turn the feature on or off for all future messages.
- Open New Outlook Settings
In the new Outlook, click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner of the window. - Go to Mail Settings
In the Settings panel, click Mail in the left pane. - Select Compose and Reply
Under Mail, click Compose and Reply. - Toggle Link Preview
Find the Link preview option. Toggle the switch to Off to disable automatic previews for all pasted links. Toggle to On to enable them.
The change applies immediately to new messages you compose. Existing drafts are not affected.
Remove a Single Link Preview in New Outlook
Right-click the preview card in the email body and select Remove Preview. The link remains as a standard hyperlink. This action does not change the global setting.
Common Issues with Link Previews in Both Versions
Preview Does Not Appear for a Pasted Link
If you paste a URL and no preview appears, the website may block Outlook from fetching its metadata. Some sites use robots.txt or lack Open Graph tags. In Classic Outlook, the preview engine may also fail for HTTPS-only sites if the rendering engine is outdated. Try pasting the link as a full URL including https:// to improve the chance of a preview.
Preview Shows Wrong Title or Image
Outlook caches preview data for a short period. If the website updates its metadata, the old preview may still appear. Right-click the preview and select Refresh Preview in new Outlook. In Classic Outlook, you must delete the link and paste it again to force a refresh.
Link Preview Feature Is Missing Entirely
In Classic Outlook, link previews are not available in all editions. Outlook 2016 and older versions do not support rich link previews. In new Outlook, the feature requires an active internet connection. If you are offline, no previews are generated. Check your connection and verify you are using the latest version of new Outlook.
Classic Outlook vs New Outlook: Link Preview Feature Comparison
| Item | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Default preview behavior | Depends on version; often no rich preview | Rich preview generated for every pasted URL |
| Global toggle location | File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > AutoCorrect > AutoFormat As You Type | Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Link Preview toggle |
| Remove preview from single link | Right-click > Remove Preview | Right-click > Remove Preview |
| Refresh preview for updated metadata | Delete and repaste the link | Right-click > Refresh Preview |
| Rendering engine | Internet Explorer engine | Modern Chromium engine |
In Classic Outlook, turning off Internet and network paths with hyperlinks also stops all automatic hyperlink creation, not just previews. In new Outlook, the toggle only affects the preview card, not the hyperlink itself. This is a key difference to consider when choosing which version to use for your workflow.
You can now control link previews in both Classic Outlook and new Outlook for Windows. Use the global toggle in new Outlook to turn previews on or off for all messages. In Classic Outlook, adjust the AutoCorrect setting to prevent automatic hyperlinks. For one-off removals, right-click and select Remove Preview. If you frequently send emails with multiple links, consider keeping previews disabled to reduce email size and loading time for recipients.